Birds of SE Arizona - May 2005
Bird/Species Trip List
171 Species
Many thanks to Lynn Feryus for help in compilation

Pied-billed Grebe – Willcox Playa
Eared Grebe – Willcox Playa
Great Blue Heron – a flyover at Casa de San Pedro
Cattle Egret – Willcox Playa
White-faced Ibis – large flock in flight, coming off an irrigated field en route to Arivaca, the first of our many rapid pullover stops. Great views at Whitewater Draw in the scope.
Black Vulture – 3-4 birds dining beside the road en route to Arivaca
Turkey Vulture – abundant, seen daily
Black-bellied Whistling Duck – a flyover group, spotted by Mike, too quick for all but a few to see with their long elegant necks…
Mallard (Mexican) – Casa de San Pedro, scope view at White Water Draw
Cinnamon Teal – Willcox Playa
Northern Shoveler – White Water Draw and Willcox Playa
Green-winged Teal – Willcox Playa
Ruddy Duck – many at Willcox Playa, males with “blue footed booby blue” bills
Sharp-shinned Hawk – one rapid flyer at Sycamore Canyon (LO) and one working feeders at Mary Jo’s.
Cooper’s Hawk – great looks at high flying bird, Sawmill Canyon
Gray Hawk – incredible views of an adult and young of last year, then two adults at TNC’s Sonoita Creek Preserve. Enjoyed hearing their calls as well.
Harris’s Hawk – breeding pair in the Sulpher Springs Valley
Swainson’s Hawks – fairly common, saw mostly light phase in flight, one dark phase perched while traveling in to Sycamore Canyon was really great.
Zone-tailed Hawk – after checking numerous Turkey Vultures for this mimic species, Lynn was victorious yelling out her sighting at Sawmill Canyon.
Red-tailed Hawk – common, seen daily. One very light bird going in to Fort Huachuca was a good “test bird” and the pair courting, flying with dropped talons and showing off their acrobatics was grand.
American Kestrel – seen on several days, the first being a small male at Sonoita Patagonia, and the best seen were a pair nesting at Casa de San Pedro.
Wild Turkey – a group of 8-10 were spotted driving up to Sawmill Canyon – the tom birds (2) were displaying, even to the point of calling in reponse to turning on the engine.
Scaled Quail – several birds, always in pairs, seen coming and going from the Casa de San Pedro.
Gambel’s Quail – seen daily, great antics!
American Coot – Whitewater Draw and Willcox Playa
Killdeer – Whitewater Draw and Willcox Playa
Black-necked Stilt – Willcox Playa, feeding, flying, showing off their brilliant red legs
American Avocet – Willcox Playa, 2 elegant birds, what a treat!
Spotted Sandpiper – one bird tettering away in the watercress at the crossing into Rex Ranch, quite a number at Willcox Playa
Marbled Godwit – Willcox Playa, a lone bird feeding diligently
Long-billed Dowitcher – Willcox Playa – group of six, also feeding diligently
Wilson’s Phalarope – Willcox Playa – a popular find, great to watch their swirl pattern feeding
Califorina Gull – one bird flying over Arivaca.
Rock Dove – Tucson, Sierra Vista, agricultural areas
Band-tailed Pigeon – single bird, Sycamore Canyon, lots flying at Portal
Eurasian Collared Dove – perched on the phone lines coming and going from Rex Ranch. Also two on wires in Rodeo NM
White-winged Dove – abundant, seen daily
Mourning Dove – also very common
Inca Dove – best looks were in the yard at Patton’s Feeders, Patagonia.
Common Ground Dove – Patagonia – Patton’s feeders
Greater Roadrunner – first for many at Rex Ranch, likely nesting in the entrance mesquites. Seen several days along the roadways.
Western Screech Owl – Dave Jasper showed us this little gem – great views
Whiskered Screech Owl – seen on our second beautiful starlit evening in the canyon of Cave Creek, super looks, lots of calling
Great Horned Owl – being mobbed by Chihuahuan Ravens, while roosting in an old cottonwood near Arivaca.
Northern Pygmy-Owl – seen by day, flew into our view for some smashing looks
Elf Owl – smallest owl, Dave Jasper showed us at the nest tree in Portal – the home of Lisa Bender. And via video, we learned a lot of life history from Helen’s webcam in a nest!
Lesser Nighthawk – common outside Casa de San Pedro at night.
Common Poorwill – heard only
Whip-poor-will – heard only
White-throated Swifts – seen in each canyon environment, lots of pairs courting and mating.
Broad-billed Hummingbird – seen at nearly every location with some photo opportunities.
Violet-crowned Hummingbird – seen at Patton’s feeders
Blue-throated Hummingbird – Ramsey Canyon feeders, Portal
Magnificent Hummingbird – seen at several higher elevation canyons and at feeders
Lucifer Hummingbird – Mary Jo’s Ash Canyon B&B feeders, gorgeous!
Black-chinned Hummingbird – very common
Anna’s Hummingbird - still controlling the feeders at Ash Canyon
Calliope Hummingbird – in Portal, a bit late, but still here….
Costa’s Hummingbird – Desert Museum (free)
Broad-tailed Hummingbird – hear it coming, very buzzy wing trill
Elegant Trogon – Way too easy for such a great bird, at Garden Canyon picnic tables, heard again at Portal
Acorn Woodpecker – noisy and active, several canyons
Gila Woodpecker – Desert Museum, Sonoita, San Pedro
Ladder-backed Woodpecker – good looks, several locations
Hairy Woodpecker – single bird, high pines near Rustler’s park
Arizona Woodpecker – Madera Canyon, Ramsey Canyon and feeders at Ash Canyon, Portal.
Northern Flicker – California Gulch, Sycamore Cyn, Patagonia and more…
Gilded Flicker – Desert Museum vicinity
Northern Beardless Tyrannulet – heard only, Sonoita Patagonia
Greater Pewee – Mike spotted this one – perched on a prominent branch in the high pine forest of Sawmill Canyon.
Western Pewee – common, seen in all sycamore lined canyons visited
Dusky Flycatcher – Sycamore Canyon, Garden Canyon
Cordilleran Flycatcher – Cave Creek Cyn and Barfoot park
Buff-breasted Flycatcher – scope view, but brief, at Sawmill Canyon.
Black Phoebe – common at water areas.
Say’s Phoebe – seen daily, delightful bird!
Vermilion Flycatcher – seen almost daily, males in courtship flight, and several families feeding young. Always a show stopper!
Dusky-capped Flycatcher – seen often in canyon environments, vocal
Ash-throated Flycatcher – seen often in drier habitats, also vocal
Brown-crested Flycatcher – sycamores were magnets for this one, calling a lot
Cassin’s Kingbird - our most common flycatcher, seen daily
Thick-billed Kingbird – great looks in the tall cottonwoods across from Patton’s feeders, pointed out by Robin Baxter and enjoyed by all!
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher – obvious and close, what more can you ask! A couple of very vocal pairs in Ramsey Canyon, loud ‘rubber ducky’ sounds
Western Kingbird – Rex Ranch provided our best views. Other sightings along roads, fence lines.
Loggerhead Shrike – Rex Ranch
Bell’s Vireo – great looks in California Gulch, then heard daily
Plumbeous Vireo – three nests seen, two providing great photos. Lots of behavior with nest exchanges and nest building, vocalizations.
Hutton’s Vireo – seen on several days, best looks Madera and Ramsey.
Steller’s Jay – Sawmill Canyon
Western Scrub Jay – Portal area
Mexican Jay – flocks in all the oak woodlands visited
Chihuahuan Raven – seen on several days, including one really showing its white neck, near the Pronghorn sighting, Hwy. 82, also common near Rodeo
Common Raven – seen daily
Horned Lark - at Willcox Playa, sighted by Lynn
Violet-green Swallow – great views at Chiricahua National Monument esp.
Cliff Swallow – under bridge, en route to Arivaca
Barn Swallow – seen daily
Mexican Chickadee – a nest, fairly low elevation Cave Creek, then Barfoot park in active mixed flock
Bridled Titmouse – seen each day when in oak woodland, best looks Ramsey.
Verdin – Dave Jasper’s house and yard
Bushtit – Sycamore, California Gulch, Garden, Ramsey and a nest seen in Madera, also higher pine forests.
Pygmy Nuthatch – Rustler Park
White-breasted Nuthatch – several sightings, cottonwood riparian habitat
Brown Creeper – calling and a flyover, Sawmill Canyon.
Cactus Wren – first seen at Desert Museum, then many days.
Rock Wren – at the waterfall area, Sycamore Canyon, heard other canyons
Canyon Wren – one seen California Gulch, heard most other canyons
Bewick’s Wren – seen and heard, daily.
House Wren – California Gulch, San Pedro near Casa
Marsh Wren – heard only, White Water Draw
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher – heard only
Eastern Bluebird (Mexican) – great looks at picnic site, Sycamore Cyn, again Barfoot Park road.
Hermit Thrush – Garden Canyon, by patches of columbine and Scarlet Monkey Flower, wow!
American Robin – several sightings, lovely songster despite being common…
Northern Mockingbird – seen daily, great array of southwestern songs….
Bendire’s Thrasher – a New Mexico bird!, also seen by Nancy at Willcox’s Playa
Curve-billed Thrasher – seen several days
Crissal Thrasher – outside Portal VERY quick flyby, and calling
European Starling – seen on too many days….
Phainopepla – many sightings, courtship flight, feeding, calling
Olive Warbler - female on nest in mistletoe above road junction at Rustler’s Park, male above her, calling
Virginia’s Warbler – perched up for incredible looks while on the road to Rustler’s Park
Lucy’s Warbler – great looks Amado, California Gulch, several other days
Yellow Warbler – California Gulch, Sonoita Patagonia, San Pedro
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Garden Canyon, higher pine habitats
Black-throated Gray Warbler – great views of this handsome bird several locations
Townsend’s Warbler – spotted by Jean, Rex Ranch
Grace’s Warbler – best looks BELOW us at Chiricahua National Monument, otherwise higher pine habitat
Common Yellowthroat – Sonoita-Patagonia Preserve, Carol and Paul spotted at Willcox Playa
MacGillivray’s Warbler – Leader only at California Gulch, then seen in Portal area
Wilson’s Warbler – Sonoita Patagonia Preserve, Madera Cyn., San Pedro
Red-faced Warbler – after a long hunt found at Barfoot Park, take your breath away color when flashed with Dave’s mirror
Painted Redstart – great views, another show stopper, most oak woodland canyons.
Yellow-breasted Chat – Sonoita Patagonia (HO) and San Pedro River
Hepatic Tanager – first good look at California Gulch, followed by several more in other canyons.
Summer Tanager – common in cottonwood habitat
Western Tanager – gorgeous males calling, Mike finally found one for Lynn!
Flame-colored Tanager – at end of Madera Canyon, up high, then a close up while eating oranges down at a cabin – a great ‘bonus’ species!
Green-tailed Towhee – several locations, but esp. San Pedro
Spotted Towhee – very common Rustler’s Park area, higher elev.
Canyon Towhee – nothing like birds picking insects off the van grill….
Abert’s Towhee – a reward for those that hiked down to the river at San Pedro house and the Casa
Rufous-winged Sparrow – Dave shared a great spot for these lower Madera, super looks.
Rufous-crowned Sparrow – several locations, often singing
Five-striped Sparrow – success after an interesting drive to California Gulch – watched for quite awhile, even down below us at a waterhole!
Chipping Sparrow – fairly common
Lark Sparrow – at Patton’s feeders
Black-throated Sparrow – very common, lovely trilling calls
Song Sparrow – rivers and wetland areas, pale race
Lincoln’s Sparrow – great looks while viewing the Elegant Trogon, a bit of competition!
White-crowned Sparrow – some still hanging around at feeders
Yellow-eyed Junco – Sawmill, Rustler’s, Barfoot
Northern Cardinal – seen daily
Pyrrhuloxia – several really great looks, male and female
Black-headed Grosbeak – our favorite songster, most often in pairs
Blue Grosbeak – in Portal at Joan Jensen’s feeders
Lazuli Bunting – at Portal feeders
Indigo Bunting - at Portal feeders
Red-winged Blackbird - common
Eastern Meadowlark – Casa, and Sulphur Springs Valley
Great-tailed Grackle – all too common…
Bronzed Cowbird – city park Patagonia and other locations
Brown-headed Cowbird – large flocks, agricultural areas, smaller groups throughout
Hooded Oriole – a great beauty, the first seen at California gulch
Bullock’s Oriole – our most common oriole
Scott’s Oriole – Portal, and near Rex Ranch
House Finch - daily
Pine Siskin – large numbers still around
Lesser Goldfinch – seen nearly each day
House Sparrow - common

Mammals
(Coue’s) White-tailed Deer, Mule Deer
Pronghorn
Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Desert Cottontail
Round-tailed Ground Squirrel, Harris’ Ground Squirrel
Rock Squirrel
Arizona Gray Squirrel, Chiracahua Fox Squirrel
Javelina
Least Chipmunk, Cliff Chipmunk
Coyote

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